Bentley’s early success in the 1922 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, when they finished second, fourth, and fifth to take the Team Prize, led to the introduction of the, appropriately named, ‘TT Replica’ on the existing 9' 9½" wheelbase, short standard chassis.

However, by the middle of the decade the 3-Litre was becoming less competitive and this, together with the fact that too many customers had been tempted to fit unsuitably heavy coachwork to the excellent 3-Litre chassis rather than accept the expense and complexity of Bentley's 6½-litre 'Silent-Six', led to the introduction of the '4½'.

The new 4½-litre model effectively employed the chassis, transmission and brakes of the 3-Litre, combined with an engine that was in essence two-thirds of the six-cylinder 6½-litre unit, retaining the six's original bore and stroke and Bentley's familiar four-valves-per-cylinder fixed-'head architecture, but reverting to the front-end vertical camshaft drive of the 3-Litre.

Equipped with their new...